Today’s topic is How to Identify and Question the Stressful Thoughts that Cause Our Stress and hopefully by the end of the show you'll be inspired to question the things that cause your suffering and have the knowledge and power to dismantle these stressful thoughts and gain freedom of mind.

My guest today is Byron Katie. Katie is the founder of The Work, a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches how to identify and question the stressful thoughts that cause all of our stress.

The free give-away today is Byron Katie's “List of Emotions” I love the give-away because it helps you identify the complex emotions you assign to each area of your suffering.

More About The Work
The Work is a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches how to identify and question the stressful thoughts that cause all of our stress.

The Work was developed by Katie Byron Mitchell who, after a long depression, noticed that she was unhappy when she believed her thoughts. She developed this method to methodically dismantle these stressful thoughts and gain freedom of mind.

Her insight into the mind is consistent with leading-edge research in cognitive neuroscience, and The Work has been compared to the Socratic dialogue, Buddhist teachings, and twelve step programs.

She says: "I discovered that when I believed my thoughts, I suffered, but that when I didn't believe them, I didn't suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Freedom is as simple as that. I found that suffering is optional. I found a joy within me that has never disappeared, not for a single moment. That joy is in everyone, always."

As we question the thoughts that pull us away from our true nature, a new reality presents itself. Fear and anger are no longer the default mode. The mind, free from stress, can think creatively, all on it's own. We create, love, innovate.

Thus we understand that our stress does not emanate from our world but from the stories we make up about it. This is empowering news. It brings our contentment out of the whim of the outside world, into the realm of our mind. Whom else should we trust with our happiness?

People who do The Work as an ongoing practice commonly report: Alleviation of depression: Find resolution, even happiness, in situations that were once debilitating.
Decreased stress: Learn how to live with less anxiety or fear.
Improved relationships: Experience deeper connection and intimacy with your partner, your parents, your children, your friends, and yourself.
Reduced anger: Understand what makes you angry and resentful, and become less reactive, less often, with less intensity.
Increased mental clarity: Live and work more intelligently and effectively, with integrity. More energy: Experience a new sense of ongoing vigor and well-being.